2io POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



yet France is a small country, not rich in comparison with us, and 

 with a national debt six times as great as ours. But France has long 

 been a civilized country, and Paris is proud to call herself " la ville 

 Lumiere." At the University of Berlin, Professor van't Hoff, the 

 great physical chemist, was called from his native Holland to occupy 

 a chair of research, in which he is totally freed from the obligation to 

 lecture. Can we not consider the possibility of something of this 

 sort in this country? 



During the last few years several institutions have been founded 

 for the sole purpose of the promotion of research, most notably the 

 Carnegie Institution of Washington and the Eockefeller Institute of 

 Medical Eesearch in New York. These noble foundations may be 

 expected to produce great results, but they do not relieve the universi- 

 ties from the duty of providing for research themselves, for research 

 can be much more efficiently carried on in connection with teaching, 

 and it is far more easy to obtain the persons who are to do the work 

 in the universities than elsewhere. The scientist who does not have 

 the inspiration of frequent contact with young and active minds of 

 students is likely to become self-absorbed, one-sided and dried up. It 

 is to be noticed that I have made this plea for research largely on the 

 basis of its effect on teaching, and of inspiration of the students and 

 of the community. 



What then, my colleagues of university and college, is our duty? 

 First of all, by our lives and precepts to teach our students that the 

 prime object of the educated man is not to make a living. Is not the 

 life more than meat, and the body than raiment? It is ours to hold 

 up the sacred torch, and to radiate upon the community those ideals 

 which it is strangely in danger of forgetting. It is for us to enrich the 

 American soil, and cause it to bring forth imperishable fruit. And 

 by word and deed to remind the young men with whom we come in 

 contact that life is neither pleasure nor pain, but serious business. 



